Saturday, February 25, 2017

Florida: New details following vicious pit bull attack. The big question is: why didn't animal control declare the dogs vicious after all the different attacks?

FLORIDA -- Kim Anaheim says she was viciously attacked by her neighbor's pit bulls Saturday morning. She says she took her dog, a chocolate lab named Rapunzel for a walk by the lake behind her condo at Sugar Mills in Mandarin when she was attacked just before noon.

The owner of the pit bulls, Shawn McLeod, says he tried to prevent the attacks, but his dogs ran out of his hands.

First Coast News has found three separate reports from Jacksonville Animal Control detailing this attack and others in the past involving the owner and his dogs.

Animal Control says McLeod's two pit bulls involved in the latest incident are in quarantine now at his home, which is required for 10 days before he will then take them to a vet to be euthanized, which is his decision.

He has been issued a citation for Destruction of Personal Property.

In the report from Animal Control Kim Anaheim says he would often let his dogs roam by themselves in their backyard.

Neighbors in the report say this has been an ongoing problem with them loose – attacking other people and animals.

In the previous incident with Anaheim back in 2015 a police report states that three pit bulls were in the unit below her living with McLeod when one killed her Chihuahua.

A witness told the officer that a basset hound was also attacked by the same dogs.

The report states that McLeod and his girlfriend are known pit bull breeders.

No citation was listed for that attack.

A third report lists an attack from 2016 at a separate residence.

The victim in this report, Jerry Hyman, says he walking out his front door when one of McLeod’s pit bulls, who was not on a leash charged at him and then a second one followed.

Hymann was treated at the hospital for gashes on his hand and leg.

In the report from that incident the officer says McLeod was actually evicted for having "bully breed dogs".

The dogs were taken to a pound and McLeod was cited with Destruction of Personal property.

Animal control says it’s always up to an owner whether to euthanize their pet.

Shawn McLeod has an excuse for every attack

They also say pit bulls are not more aggressive breeds, contrary to popular belief, but they are more numerous and their demeanor all depends on their care.

Meanwhile, Anaheim has an attorney and plans to pursue legal action for the attack.

"All I can say is I was taking my dog potty, her back was turned to the unit and they just ran out and attacked, totally unprovoked," said Anaheim.

She says this isn’t the first time this has happened.

She says her pet Chihuahua was attacked and killed by the same neighbor's pitbull in November of 2015, one day after her mother passed away.

"He's up in heaven with his granny, my mom," said Anaheim.

First Coast News confronted the owner of the pit bulls to see what happened on his end the morning of the latest attack. The owner, who just wants to go by his first name Shawn says it was all an accident. He says he was trying to restrain one of his dogs at the time.

"She was on the side of the building with her dog, I never saw them," said Shawn. "I went to clip Baby Girl’s leash on and somehow it popped off and next thing I know we’re rolling on the ground and I got bit trying to break everything up."

Shawn says he stuck his hand into his dog’s mouth to pull them away. When he broke up the fight he says he rushed inside without calling 911 because, he says, a neighbor across the street was already doing that for them.

"Well yeah I didn’t have to because I knew someone else already did it," said Shawn.

He says his dogs have never shown any aggression toward him or his 11-year-old son, but he still recalls the last incident in November with Anaheim’s other dog.

"They went to take the trash out and their dog ran all the way to the door by our dog and she killed him," said Shawn.

He says his dog was exonerated in that instance.

"They know I’m sorry, it just doesn’t mean anything you know," said Shawn.

Anaheim is currently working on releasing a statement with her attorney. She plans on pursuing legal action and has already filed a police report.

She says she and her dog are healing but she may need plastic surgery on her face due to the deep gashes. Her dog almost lost his tail in the attack but is expected to be okay.